Spring-tackle for the sheets of fore-and-aft-rigged vessels



No. 31,759. PATENTED' MAR. 19 1,361.

' W. WOODBURY; SPRING TACKLE FOR THE SHEETS 0F FORE .AND AFTBIGGED VESSELS,

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

WILLIAM WOODBURY, OF GLOUCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPRING-TACKLE FOR THE SHEETS 0F FOBE-AND-AFT-RIGGED VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 31,759, dated March 19, 1861.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM I VOODBURY, of Gloucester, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in the Tackle of the Fore-and-Aft Sails of Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which is represented the deck of a vessel with the mast and boom and my improvements applied thereto.

In vessels rigged with fore and aft sails attached at their lower side to'a boom (for example the mainsail of a sloop or schooner) the sheet which is used to control the position of the boom and with it that of the sail, is rove through a block attached to the boom, and through another one connected with the traveler; this traveler is usually a stout iron rod secured at each end to the inner side of the stern or to the deck of the vessel and raised a little from it, so that the traveler block which is attached to itby a ring may slide freely from one end to the other of it, as the boom is shifted from one side to the other of the vessel as she goes on diiferent tacks. As the boom passes over from one side to the other, the traveler block'is brought up, violently against the end of the traveler, and in rough weather this sudden surge is liable to part the sheet, break the boom, or tear the sail, either of which accidents may endanger the safety of the vessel and her crew.

The object of my present invention is to relieve the vessel as much as possible from this violent jar and her rigging from the wear and tear incident thereto; and my invention consists in combining with the traveler and sheeta spring or springs which shall receive the first shock as the sail fills and relieve the sheet from the sudden jerk and strain which it usually receives.

That others skilled in the art may understand and use my invention I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried out the same.

In the said drawings A represents the deck of the vessel. B the stern to which is attached the traveler C; this isa stout rod of iron'the ends of which are bent so as to raise the straight portion a fewinches from the face of the stern; on this rod slides a loop a to which is attached the traveler block D. On each side of the loop a and embracing the traveler rod C is a tube of india rubber forming a spring 5 which is compressed by the loop a as it is moved. toward either end of the traveler. A metal ring or stop 3 at each end protects the end of the spring. The main sheet E is rove through the traveler block D and through the sheet block F attached to the boom Gr. As the boom swings over to either side of the vessel, as she goes about on a different tack, the strain and jerk on the sheet as the sail fills is received on one of the springs b and the jar and strain on the vessel and her rigging is materially eased.

Instead of the india rubber tube any other spring which can be applied, may be used.

hat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The springs b in combination with the traveler C and sheet E operating substantially as described for the purpose specified.

WM. WOODBUBY. 

